Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hello, I am conducting a science project that involve using some organism that develops tumors in order to learn more about that effect of angiogenesis on tumor growth. I am looking for what kind of organism that I can use in order to do this project.The animal must have blood vessels so that angiogenesis will occur. Also what would be the best method to cause the formation of a tumor in the organism. This is my first time doing any research in a topic like this show I know very little about the proper procedures. Any advice would be useful. Thank you for your help.

Hi,

The first thing we would need to know are what your school's regulations on use of animals in experiments are. Some schools prohibit the use of any kinds of animals. Others only allow certain kinds. Most cancer research using animal models is done on mice, but you would need to work in a university research lab with approval from an animal use and care committee.

You might be able to get permission to use fish or frogs but they are vertebrates and usually also require institutional animal use and care approval.

Angiogenesis research can be done on non-animal cell or organ models but this would require that you have access to a university research lab that is equipped to perform tissue culture.

Tumor formation in relation to angiogenesis is a great area for research but performing such experiments in a high school lab is not usually possible. You can look for universities in your area that have medical research departments and contact the professors to see if they would be willing to let you work on experiments in their lab. This requires that you have a good working knowledge of the field of research and basic lab skills.

Let us know what resources you have access to and we can better help you in developing a project.

Good luck,

Sybee